Guidance from the Universe: Hopeful Messages for Everyday Challenges Book Review

Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read plenty of self-help books over the years, and they have been good. I may not always reread them, but I take away at least one thing from each. With today’s book Guidance from the Universe: Hopeful Messages for Everyday Challenges by Jill Amy Sager, it was different. It uses Tarot cards to provide advice on how to deal with life and everyday obstacles. But more importantly, it spoke to me because of its simple, but effective structure and how open and honest the author was with her experiences.

Guidance from the Universe: Hopeful Messages for Everyday Challenges is a self-help memoir of how the author achieved enlightenment and self-acceptance through Tarot readings. Jill grew up physically disabled and felt unloveable. However, after she discovered Tarot cards, she unexpectedly channeled wisdom from a sage source that she calls “Guidance.” This allowed her to transform into a confident woman who felt comfortable in her own skin. She shares 30 insightful messages from “Guidance” alongside personal stories that showcase how those teachings have improved her life and it can with others.

I never dabbled in Tarot cards, but I have a friend who loves them. When we were on our spring break in Boston during our senior year of college, we stumbled upon a Tarot card shop. She was elated, while I was more muted. I didn’t fully understand what made them special outside of fortune telling. As a result, I wasn’t expecting to get much out of this book. However, I found myself enjoying it, and it gave me better comprehension on what Tarot cards actually are. It’s not just predicting the future. They help guide people through various challenges.

Sager made this possible with the simply structure and her personable writing. Each chapter is about a different topic like Awareness, Anger, Choice, Shame, etc. It starts off with what “Guidance” says about it initially. Then, it transitions into a personal story that involves that subject and how “Guidance’s” message helped her to rethink it. At the end, Sager provides a set of questions that assists readers in their own spiritual journey. Theoretically, the chapters could be read in any order, or people could look at any one depending on what they’re dealing with. It’s truly up to the reader.

I ended up perusing the entire memoir because of how open and honest Sager was. She grew up with a shorter leg, but after a series of surgeries that failed to fix that problem, she became more insecure about her body. In addition, she had a fraught relationship with her mother, whom she portrays as cold and unattentive. This, in turn, sadly informed future relationships, in which she didn’t treat her partners well. While Sager shares plenty of stories, two common threads involve her disability and her mother. This hit me because I’m neurodivergent, and my mom and I didn’t always see eye to eye while I was growing up. I wanted to know how she was able to accept her physical issues and forgive her mother. 

Of all the self-help books I’ve read, this is my personal favorite. I liked The Indispensable Element: Six Keys to Lead Yourself to Success in Your Life, Work, and Relationships by Micah E. Huggins, Esq. However, it had a little too much of a religious tone for me. Guidance From the Universe is more spiritual, which allows people from all religions to enjoy it. Meanwhile, I was fascinated by how NeuroMastery: Retraining Your Brain to Conquer Anxiety, Fear, and Panic Attacks by Ugochukwu Uche MS., LPC used biology to lessen anxiety and panic attacks, but it was too repetitive and didn’t acknowledge situations in which trauma has been with people for their entire life. Although Sager certainly repeats herself quite a lot, she’s able to phrase her points in different ways, so it still feels fresh. I was also intrigued by how she has dealt with a lifelong disability. Additionally, as much as I love Forget the Fairy Tale and Find Your Happiness by Deb Miller, my main takeaway was the Disney Princess analogies (to be fair, that’s the point). And yes, I adore Big Love by Bari Beckett, yet I have to be in a certain mood to reread it. With Guidance From the Universe, I feel that I can look at it any time and take away a lot. 

Guidance from the Universe: Hopeful Messages for Everyday Challenges by Jill Amy Sager is as of now my favorite self-help book. I wasn’t expecting much when I first came across this memoir, yet I’m glad I read it. I loved how honest she was with her disability, relationships, and all of the choices she made even if it didn’t make her look good. I admired how “Guidance” gave her strength and awareness to analyze her feelings and take actions that aid in her healing. To quote Goodreads reviewer ♡︎.ᐟજ⁀➴ Erie, I would recommend it to “anyone seeking daily encouragement and insight, readers drawn to spiritual and intuitive wisdom, [and] those navigating life changes and personal growth.”

Go grab it wherever you get your books.

Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates. Also feel free to email me here for any review suggestions, ideas, or new titles!